The Watchmen: Protecting Mankind...FROM ITSELF!!!

Watchmen goes right up there with Akira and Batman: Long Halloween as one of the most satisfying graphic novels that I have read. I say satisfying rather than greatest(even though it is definitely one of the best things I've read) because I genuinely feel that the story was executed perfectly. There are a few reasons why. First of all, the art of the book was excellent with a great attention to detail. My favorite recurring detail would have to be Rorschach's  mask. I can only imagine how long it took for them to decide which blot goes where.The characters and the sequencing of their respective stories in and out of each other was also pretty brilliant. Some of the characters who the audience is led to hate in the beginning, like Comedian, wind up being somewhat redeemed in the end, while others wind up almost betraying the reader. I think that the extra texts at the end of each chapter really helped flesh out their  backstories, but even without them it would still be very good. The whole idea of Caped-Avengers vs. Superheroes was really interesting and I like how they brought that conflict sort of full circle with Veidt besting Dr. Manhattan. 

Speaking of which, Adrien Veidt aka Ozymandias might just be one of the biggest baddasses in any genre ever. I always love it when the bad guy wins but in this case he isnt necessarily the bad guy. Sure he committed mass genocide but he accomplished world peace in doing so. I guess you can even say that because of Rorschach's journal at the end that maybe Adrien doesn't win. In fact one can even argue that Rorschach with his inability to compromise is the books biggest antagonist. Regardless of whether or not you agree that Adrien is in fact the villain, you cannot tell me that when he finally realizes his achievement that you do not feel happy for him. When the tears begin to well up in his eyes and he proclaims, "I DID IT!", it made me revaluate my whole perspective on what it means to be a hero. In the Dark Knight, Michael Caine talks about how sometimes a Hero has to be more to the people tha just someone who rounds up badguys and rescues kittens from trees. This applies to Veidt because he realized what was at stake here. He knew what he needed to be for the people. For a couple million he was the final judgement, but for billions of others he was the last savior. He was the one that had to bare the burden. The other Watchmen were just going along for the ride and at times made things even worse